Dolichoderus inferus

Dolichoderus inferus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dolichoderinae
Tribe:	Dolichoderini
Genus:	Dolichoderus
Species group:	scabridus
Species:	D. inferus
Binomial name
Dolichoderus inferus Shattuck & Marsden, 2013 Specimen Labels

Dolichoderus inferus is most common in dry sclerophyll habitats but extends into wet sclerophyll as well. Foragers have been encountered primarily on low vegetation and trees and a nest was found in a dead branch.

Identification

Pronotum rounded, lacking spines, propodeum with elongate spines directed upward at angle of 45° or less to horizontal plane, the angle between them at least 90°; base of propodeal spines forming a "U" with a broad concavity connecting their bases (sometimes this region flat or weakly convex); dorsum of petiolar node broad; legs short and dark red-brown in colour, at most only slightly lighter in colour than the body.

This species is similar to Dolichoderus ypsilon, Dolichoderus rufotibialis and Dolichoderus niger but can be distinguished from these by its dorsally broad petiolar node (rather than angular); and the broad "U" formed at the base of the propodeal spines rather than a narrowly angled "V" when viewed from the front. It is most similar to Dolichoderus scabridus which also has a broad petiolar node, and "U" at the base of the propodeal spines, but differs in having dark red-brown legs rather than yellowish-red.

Identification Keys including this Taxon

• Key to Australian Dolichoderus Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -33.75° to -35.00722222°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

While most specimens have been encountered in the general vicinity of Sydney, there is a single collection from southern Victoria, some 700kms to the south-east. These specimens are morphologically inseparable from the Sydney population and appear to represent the same species. The current status of this species in Victoria is uncertain given that it has only been found a single time.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• inferus. Dolichoderus inferus Shattuck & Marsden, 2013: 122, fig. 14 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Type Material

• Holotype, worker, Gordon, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 33°45′0″S 151°9′0″E, 21 September 1974, P.S. Ward, PSWC#92, ANIC32-066605, Australian National Insect Collection; foraging on Eucalyptus trunk in dry sclerophyll.
• Paratype, 3 workers, Gordon, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 33°45′0″S 151°9′0″E, 21 September 1974, P.S. Ward, PSWC#92, ANIC32-060583, Australian National Insect Collection; foraging on Eucalyptus trunk in dry sclerophyll.
• Paratype, 3 workers, Gordon, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 33°45′0″S 151°9′0″E, 15 September 1974, P.S. Ward, PSWC#47, ANIC32-060584, Australian National Insect Collection; ex. dead branch on sandstone ledge, in dry sclerophyll.
• Paratype, 3 workers, Gordon, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 33°45′0″S 151°9′0″E, 15 September 1974, P.S. Ward, PSWC#47, ANIC32-060584, Museum of Comparative Zoology; ex. dead branch on sandstone ledge, in dry sclerophyll.

Description

The available material shows little variation.

Measurements (n=5). CI 92–97; EI 20–22; EL 0.28–0.31; HL 1.44–1.54; HW 1.33–1.42; ML 1.96–2.12; MTL 1.14–1.21; PronI 73.48–74.79; PronW 1.00–1.05; SI 100–105; SL 1.38–1.46.

References

• Shattuck, S.O. & Marsden, S. 2013. Australian species of the ant genus Dolichoderus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3716, 101–143 (doi 10.11646/zootaxa.3716.2.1).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Shattuck S. O., and S. Marsden. 2013. Australian species of the ant genus Dolichoderus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3716(2): 101-143.